Something Smells Fishy...

If you keep an eye on your ingredient list, you’ll probably realize just how common “fragrance” is. With 10,000 products using them, scented products cover anywhere from a third to a half of the cosmetic shelves. But you probably don’t know just what type of chemical “fragrance” is. Turns out, it isn’t a single chemical, but a mixture of 5,000 different chemicals. Using anywhere from 15 to 50 ingredients, packagers have a centillion of choices they add to cosmetics.

This can be very dangerous for you and your skin. As much as 30% of the population is allergic to scented products, more than the entire population of Brazil. What’s worse is that fragrances may even cause skin allergies. A study in 2014 found that the dangerous lialool hydroperoxides in most fragrances can sensitize skin to chemicals, breaking down your natural protections to cause eczema, dermatitis, rashes, and inflammation. Inflammatory products such as these cause skin to swell, stretch, and wrinkle, creating fine lines and aging your skin prematurely. Furthermore, fragrances can permanently stain skin, causing discoloration otherwise reserved for the aged.

You may be rationalizing why companies add fragrances if they’re so bad; there should, after all, be a good reason. But there simply aren’t any benefits. Added fragrances doesn’t moisturize or nurture your skin; with no vitamins, antioxidants, or minerals, they simply cause damage. The only reason why companies add scents to their product is to indulge and attract unwitting customers, or to cover the off putting smells of their less than appealing chemical ingredients.

Fragrance-free products are products which don’t have any synthetic scents added to them, preferring instead to keep them unadulterated by dangerous fragrances. Without the unlisted toxic chemicals, you don’t have to worry about buying a product that you’re allergic to or risk developing an allergy through exposure. You also won’t have to worry about spreading the toxic scent around, meaning your friends and family will breathe better. Keeping your children, siblings, or friends breathing well instead of triggering asthma or TB might be worth it in and of itself.

Some complain about the scent of an all-natural product. Some can be earthy (think of the first time you smelt Face Mud!), but always being able to tell what’s in your product is a much better idea, and the natural scents can be rich and fresh. Ingredients like vanilla, mango, or rose can create rich aromas with great benefits attached, so you’ll know what a great product your buying from the smell alone.

In general, you skin will enjoy a fragrant-free product. Without any toxic additives to clog your pores, your skin will be able to breathe better, soothing inflammation, brightening the skin, increasing collagen production to fill in wrinkles, and increases natural antibodies to stimulate healing. Keep zero-fragrance products also stops the toxins from absorbing through your skin, leading to detoxification. Detoxifying your skin will prevent breakouts, add a glow to your skin and even give a dewy look. Overall, going fragrance-free might be the best decision you ever make for your skin.